Re:other potential things (Score 2, Informative)

Warpspeed and hyperspace aren't really used outside of science fiction though. Space elevator and grey goo I'll grant you. A portal is just an opening or a doorway.

That's just not true. Google has 974,000 hits on "warpspeed" including:

http://www.warpspeedperformance.com/ - Exhaust and chassis upgrades

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/02/hiv-evolving-at.html - Article about evolution of HIV

http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2009/04/02/ - Apparently Opera allows you to browse the web quickly. (Admittedly that's rather science-fictiony.)

And many others.

Granted, not used currently in *science* but it's certainly used outside science fiction!